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Shake Bouchon #2
Whiplash River
Having left his life of crime behind, former getaway driver Charles “Shake” Bouchon has finally realized the dream of owning his own restaurant in Belize. Unfortunately, to do so he’s had to go deep in debt to a murderous local drug lord named Baby Jesus. And when Shake thwarts an attempted hit on an elderly customer named Quinn, things go from bad to worse.
Next thing Shake knows, his restaurant’s gone up in flames and he’s on the run from Baby Jesus, two freelance assassins, and a beautiful but ferocious FBI agent. Out of options, Shake has to turn to the mysterious Quinn for help. Suddenly Shake’s up to his neck in a dangerous score that he’ll never pull off unless he can convince an even more dangerous ex-girlfriend to join him.
Next thing Shake knows, his restaurant’s gone up in flames and he’s on the run from Baby Jesus, two freelance assassins, and a beautiful but ferocious FBI agent. Out of options, Shake has to turn to the mysterious Quinn for help. Suddenly Shake’s up to his neck in a dangerous score that he’ll never pull off unless he can convince an even more dangerous ex-girlfriend to join him.
322 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
181 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
Lou Berney
9 books1,084 followersLou Berney is the Edgar Award-winning author of Double Barrel Bluff (November 2024), Dark Ride (2023), November Road (2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (2015), Whiplash River (2012), and Gutshot Straight (2010), all from William Morrow. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, the New England Review, and the Pushcart Prize anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
June 26, 2016
This is the second very entertaining novel from Lou Berney featuring Charles "Shake" Bouchon, who first appeared in Gutshot Straight in 2010. Shake is a former wheel man and ex-con who's determined to put his checkered past behind him. He's made his way to the Caribbean paradise of Belize and realized his life-long dream of opening a restaurant.
It's a lot of work, and building a successful enterprise like this takes time and money. To make ends meet, Shake has borrowed money from a violent drug lord known as Baby Jesus. He's in danger of missing his next payment, and this could lead to serious problems. But this restaurant is a labor of love, and Shake couldn't be happier until one night a gunman barges into the restaurant in the middle of the dinner hour and attempts to shoot an elderly customer. Shake intervenes and saves the customer, breaking the gunman's nose in the process. But in doing so, he effectively blows up his own island dreams and puts himself in considerable jeopardy.
The assassin's target is a gentleman of the old school named Quinn who appears to have stepped directly out of the pages of a Ross Thomas novel and onto the stage in this book. He claims to have been involved in nefarious adventures in various parts of the world over the years. Maybe he was with the C.I.A.; maybe he was on the other side of the law; maybe both. It's not exactly clear.
Quinn attempts to enlist Shake in his next grand scheme and, against his better judgement, Shake agrees. What follows is an excellent adventure that sounds like a mash-up of Elmore Leonard and the aforementioned Mr. Thomas. There's action galore, exotic locales, interesting and very dangerous adversaries, and--even better--some interesting and very dangerous women. It's a lot of fun and a worthy sequel to Gutshot Straight, although any reader contemplating this book would certainly want to read "Gutshot" first.
Lou Berney won the coveted Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original for his novel, The Long and Faraway Gone, and he's clearly a rising star in the crime fiction field. The guy can't write books fast enough to suit me, and any fan of crime fiction who hasn't yet discovered him will be very happy to make his acquaintance.
It's a lot of work, and building a successful enterprise like this takes time and money. To make ends meet, Shake has borrowed money from a violent drug lord known as Baby Jesus. He's in danger of missing his next payment, and this could lead to serious problems. But this restaurant is a labor of love, and Shake couldn't be happier until one night a gunman barges into the restaurant in the middle of the dinner hour and attempts to shoot an elderly customer. Shake intervenes and saves the customer, breaking the gunman's nose in the process. But in doing so, he effectively blows up his own island dreams and puts himself in considerable jeopardy.
The assassin's target is a gentleman of the old school named Quinn who appears to have stepped directly out of the pages of a Ross Thomas novel and onto the stage in this book. He claims to have been involved in nefarious adventures in various parts of the world over the years. Maybe he was with the C.I.A.; maybe he was on the other side of the law; maybe both. It's not exactly clear.
Quinn attempts to enlist Shake in his next grand scheme and, against his better judgement, Shake agrees. What follows is an excellent adventure that sounds like a mash-up of Elmore Leonard and the aforementioned Mr. Thomas. There's action galore, exotic locales, interesting and very dangerous adversaries, and--even better--some interesting and very dangerous women. It's a lot of fun and a worthy sequel to Gutshot Straight, although any reader contemplating this book would certainly want to read "Gutshot" first.
Lou Berney won the coveted Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original for his novel, The Long and Faraway Gone, and he's clearly a rising star in the crime fiction field. The guy can't write books fast enough to suit me, and any fan of crime fiction who hasn't yet discovered him will be very happy to make his acquaintance.
December 4, 2024
Having just finished Double Barrel Bluff, I decided to rectify having missed Whiplash River and give it a go. It took me a tad longer to get invested in this story. But once I did, I was hooked.
Berney believes in high volume action throughout the book. He doesn’t save it for a climactic end. He has also once again filled his story with very colorful characters. In fact, that is Berney’s true strength. Shake is almost a straight man to the folks that he encounters, especially those out to get him.
The premise here is that Shake has settled down in Belize and opened a restaurant. In order to finance the restaurant, he has borrowed from a drug dealer named Baby Jesus. The restaurant is already struggling when someone attempts to bump off one of his customers during the dinner hour, shooting the place all to hell. And then the next day, the restaurant is blown up. The customer in question, Quinn, has had his own colorful past - he’s some kind of international man of mystery, although it’s unclear what side of the law he operated on. Needless to say, Shake and Quinn end up in cahoots together. And when Quinn proposes a big score, Shake knows he has to bring Gina into it.
I’m coming to realize that I will gladly accept OTT plots, if there’s humor involved. But it’s got to be intelligent and plentiful. This series fulfills that requirement.
I listened to this and Jeff Gurner did a great job as the narrator.
Berney believes in high volume action throughout the book. He doesn’t save it for a climactic end. He has also once again filled his story with very colorful characters. In fact, that is Berney’s true strength. Shake is almost a straight man to the folks that he encounters, especially those out to get him.
The premise here is that Shake has settled down in Belize and opened a restaurant. In order to finance the restaurant, he has borrowed from a drug dealer named Baby Jesus. The restaurant is already struggling when someone attempts to bump off one of his customers during the dinner hour, shooting the place all to hell. And then the next day, the restaurant is blown up. The customer in question, Quinn, has had his own colorful past - he’s some kind of international man of mystery, although it’s unclear what side of the law he operated on. Needless to say, Shake and Quinn end up in cahoots together. And when Quinn proposes a big score, Shake knows he has to bring Gina into it.
I’m coming to realize that I will gladly accept OTT plots, if there’s humor involved. But it’s got to be intelligent and plentiful. This series fulfills that requirement.
I listened to this and Jeff Gurner did a great job as the narrator.
December 11, 2023
Ten hours flat, start to finish. Ten hours and I stopped to eat lunch and to eat dinner and that was the problem! Both were food that took both hands and how could I eat but also keep reading?
If I really, really liked Gutshot Straight, I loved loved loved this one. This guy is— hang with me here— the William Gay to Elmore Leonard’s Cormac McCarthy. At first glance, he’s got Elmore’s language, he’s onto the master’s tricks. But any look closer and it’s not even close to imitation. It’s not even homage. It may be a debt owed but he’s doing something so completely his own, from his own heart and guts, it’s in another zipcode.
And this zipcode is my zipcode, you better believe it. There are Shake and Quinn who joke about Faulkner and Don Quixote and Ten Wanted Men. Baby-faced crime bosses named Baby Jesus who read The Four Hour Workweek to decide if they should shoot their gun thug for putting a scratch on their boat. There’s twists and flips and triple-crosses and I laughed out loud and chewed my nails and held my breath and got choked up until I had to look away and blink to see the page. The crackling chemistry Shake had with Gina is missing but you don’t even notice until the halfway mark and holy shit, the hot blue spark is back. Then it’s just two Evinrude motors, full bore, breakneck.
Plus this time, there’s a lady Fed with a SIG Sauer and Cairo, Egypt and Terry and Meg, my darling Meg. The plot’s a little tighter. The love’s a little deeper. There’s bullshit by the metric ton but all the earnestness a heart can hold and there’s not a trace of anything ironic or detached within a square mile. Everybody’s self-aware and badass and scared shitless and bold and smart and dumb and funny and unexpectedly deep, all of my favorite things in a person.
Like Elmore said, a sequel’s got to be better than the original or it’s not gonna work. This one proved the first one wasn’t a fluke. Now I just wish Berney’s catalog was already sixty deep so I could read so much more.
P.S. Nice with the hat tip to Ted Griffin via Shake and Gina’s bit on the writer of Ocean’s Eleven. (“The one with Sinatra, you mean?”)
- - -
Re-read September 2013: I was going to read this a second time, longer and slower this time. I guess I did. It lasted two days. So then I tried a third time and finally did it, taking a whole week to savor the fun.
I wouldn’t even know how to explain how to push all my buttons, but boy, this sure does. Quinn and Meg and Terry and Shake and Gina! I could grab this book and pick a chapter, any chapter, any time I want to brighten my day.
It’s goddamn delightful. It might be one of the books I read most this year.
If I really, really liked Gutshot Straight, I loved loved loved this one. This guy is— hang with me here— the William Gay to Elmore Leonard’s Cormac McCarthy. At first glance, he’s got Elmore’s language, he’s onto the master’s tricks. But any look closer and it’s not even close to imitation. It’s not even homage. It may be a debt owed but he’s doing something so completely his own, from his own heart and guts, it’s in another zipcode.
And this zipcode is my zipcode, you better believe it. There are Shake and Quinn who joke about Faulkner and Don Quixote and Ten Wanted Men. Baby-faced crime bosses named Baby Jesus who read The Four Hour Workweek to decide if they should shoot their gun thug for putting a scratch on their boat. There’s twists and flips and triple-crosses and I laughed out loud and chewed my nails and held my breath and got choked up until I had to look away and blink to see the page. The crackling chemistry Shake had with Gina is missing but you don’t even notice until the halfway mark and holy shit, the hot blue spark is back. Then it’s just two Evinrude motors, full bore, breakneck.
Plus this time, there’s a lady Fed with a SIG Sauer and Cairo, Egypt and Terry and Meg, my darling Meg. The plot’s a little tighter. The love’s a little deeper. There’s bullshit by the metric ton but all the earnestness a heart can hold and there’s not a trace of anything ironic or detached within a square mile. Everybody’s self-aware and badass and scared shitless and bold and smart and dumb and funny and unexpectedly deep, all of my favorite things in a person.
Like Elmore said, a sequel’s got to be better than the original or it’s not gonna work. This one proved the first one wasn’t a fluke. Now I just wish Berney’s catalog was already sixty deep so I could read so much more.
P.S. Nice with the hat tip to Ted Griffin via Shake and Gina’s bit on the writer of Ocean’s Eleven. (“The one with Sinatra, you mean?”)
- - -
Re-read September 2013: I was going to read this a second time, longer and slower this time. I guess I did. It lasted two days. So then I tried a third time and finally did it, taking a whole week to savor the fun.
I wouldn’t even know how to explain how to push all my buttons, but boy, this sure does. Quinn and Meg and Terry and Shake and Gina! I could grab this book and pick a chapter, any chapter, any time I want to brighten my day.
It’s goddamn delightful. It might be one of the books I read most this year.
November 20, 2016
Can I rate this six stars? Is that permissible?
I'm wrung out after that last 40 or so pages.
Lou Berney is such an awe inspiring writer - long time, no Dutch.
12 star rating.
This novel is a sequel to Lou Berney's Gutshot Straight .
As much as I enjoyed that particular novel, Whiplash River: A Novel is even better.
It's not necessary to have read that first entry in the series.
This is an international heist/crme caper with numerous killings.
Starts in Belize, ends in Cairo.
Amazing cast of memorable characters - almost all of whom could have strolled out of a middle-era Elmore Leonard novel.
Fast moving, brilliantly funny dialogue, suspenseful, and action-packed.
Might be my favorite read of 2016.
Highest Possible Recommendation!
December 9, 2018
Berney is shooting up my list of favorite authors. "Shake" is an ex con who opened his own restaurant in Belize. Things are ok until his place is blown up, and Baby Jesus, his drug dealing loan shark wants his money. Think of Get Shorty as an example.
July 16, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Whiplash River by Lou Berney. It made me gasp and smile. It’s a romp, a caper, a slightly mad-cap thriller.
Opening line:
The view from the veranda was a killer.
A sugar-sand beach, palm trees, the Caribbean glittering beneath a full moon. A wooden pier curved out over the water, with a thatch-covered palapa perched at the end. Straight off a postcard.
Shake had bought the Sunset Breeze more than two years ago. You’d think he wouldn’t even notice the view any more, but he did. Every single time he stepped onto the veranda of the restatuant, his restaurrant, that was still his first though: Straight off a postcard.
Shake’s an ex-con who is trying to go straight. Unfortunatley, Shake’s one of those loveable guys that fate just seems to want to screw with, of course, his own decisions don’t help.
Shake’s Bad Ideas:
1.Going in debt to the local drug lord, Baby Jesus, to open his restaurant. Baby Jesus wants paid, and he wants paid on time. Tough to do when when your restaurant goes up in flames.
2.Turning to Quinn, an elderly man who is full of stories, when you’re in trouble. After all, he almost got killed in the middle of your restaurant and now the assassins are after you too, along with a gorgeous FBI agent who wants to nail your former employer, the Armenian mob.
3.Agreeing to a major score, stealing a historical American artifact currently in a collection in Egypt, conned into the heist by Quinn.
4.Bringing in your dangerous, and very attractive ex-girlfriend to help with above score. After all it’s impossible without her, isn’t it?
Yeah, not the best choices, but it does make for a great novel, where events just keep spinning farther and farther out of Shake’s control. You have to love Shake, he’s charming, handsome, one of the good guy crooks. Quinn is a mysterious man, you don’t know how much of his stories to believe, but you know he’s bound to get Shake into trouble. And Gina, the ex, is a strong woman, smart, lovely, better prepared for life than Shake by far, and Berney plays with the romantic connection well. Not only do you want Shake and Gina to pull off the score without getting caught, you want them back together by the end.
Exotic locales, a larger than life cast of characters, a fast-paced plot and snappy dialogue made this my favorite read of the summer so far. It made me laugh and cringe, a good combo.
Opening line:
The view from the veranda was a killer.
A sugar-sand beach, palm trees, the Caribbean glittering beneath a full moon. A wooden pier curved out over the water, with a thatch-covered palapa perched at the end. Straight off a postcard.
Shake had bought the Sunset Breeze more than two years ago. You’d think he wouldn’t even notice the view any more, but he did. Every single time he stepped onto the veranda of the restatuant, his restaurrant, that was still his first though: Straight off a postcard.
Shake’s an ex-con who is trying to go straight. Unfortunatley, Shake’s one of those loveable guys that fate just seems to want to screw with, of course, his own decisions don’t help.
Shake’s Bad Ideas:
1.Going in debt to the local drug lord, Baby Jesus, to open his restaurant. Baby Jesus wants paid, and he wants paid on time. Tough to do when when your restaurant goes up in flames.
2.Turning to Quinn, an elderly man who is full of stories, when you’re in trouble. After all, he almost got killed in the middle of your restaurant and now the assassins are after you too, along with a gorgeous FBI agent who wants to nail your former employer, the Armenian mob.
3.Agreeing to a major score, stealing a historical American artifact currently in a collection in Egypt, conned into the heist by Quinn.
4.Bringing in your dangerous, and very attractive ex-girlfriend to help with above score. After all it’s impossible without her, isn’t it?
Yeah, not the best choices, but it does make for a great novel, where events just keep spinning farther and farther out of Shake’s control. You have to love Shake, he’s charming, handsome, one of the good guy crooks. Quinn is a mysterious man, you don’t know how much of his stories to believe, but you know he’s bound to get Shake into trouble. And Gina, the ex, is a strong woman, smart, lovely, better prepared for life than Shake by far, and Berney plays with the romantic connection well. Not only do you want Shake and Gina to pull off the score without getting caught, you want them back together by the end.
Exotic locales, a larger than life cast of characters, a fast-paced plot and snappy dialogue made this my favorite read of the summer so far. It made me laugh and cringe, a good combo.
December 29, 2013
I'm physically exhausted after reading this hellish good follow-up spree all the way to the pyramids.
Love the 'Shakes & Gina' team and all the new brazen, crazy, loveable characters - zowee Meg aka Peppermint Patty, big smile Evelyn, chatty Harry and batshit Babb. Tough Meg deserves to lead next and maybe Jasper can help a gal out.
Back to being exhausted: the reader is never in on the con and you can't guess quick enough, the author has so many balls in the air and he's a consummate juggler.
Heart pounding, belly aching fun. Highly recommend.
Love the 'Shakes & Gina' team and all the new brazen, crazy, loveable characters - zowee Meg aka Peppermint Patty, big smile Evelyn, chatty Harry and batshit Babb. Tough Meg deserves to lead next and maybe Jasper can help a gal out.
Back to being exhausted: the reader is never in on the con and you can't guess quick enough, the author has so many balls in the air and he's a consummate juggler.
Heart pounding, belly aching fun. Highly recommend.
July 19, 2014
From cover to cover, Whiplash River is completely entertaining. It grabs your attention from the start with an exotic destination that happens to be one my favorite places: the Caribbean. Then the book pulls you in, willingly, with its wonderful characters. Each one is different and unique, but more to the point, each one is real in terms of their individual hopes, regrets, and personalities. There are no favorites, which makes switching between storylines a real pleasure. As you leave one character’s story, the next character in line is enthusiastically received.
Based on the above, you might believe that this is a character-driven book. However, the plot drives this story in that there is never a dull moment. It's an extraordinary find to come across a book that provides deliciously interesting characters that are entwined within a captivating plot, but be assured, this is one of those books.
Based on the above, you might believe that this is a character-driven book. However, the plot drives this story in that there is never a dull moment. It's an extraordinary find to come across a book that provides deliciously interesting characters that are entwined within a captivating plot, but be assured, this is one of those books.
December 31, 2016
Tone: pitch-perfect. Tempo: driving. Enjoyment: 10. One of the most enjoyable books of this year! Great plot and adventure, lovable criminal characters. Recommend: Everyone.
February 8, 2020
Former getaway car driver Charles "Shake" Bouchon is back for the 2nd in the Shake Bouchon series. This time, he's left his con artist lover Gina and opened a restaurant in Belize. He's already in debt to a nasty drug dealer called Baby Jesus - and then his restaurant gets blown up. This happened just as he was getting friendly with an American tourist called Evelyn who turns out to be an FBI agent who wants him to snitch on the Armenian gang he used to work for back in the USA.
Confused? You really need to keep your wits about you as the convoluted plot unfolds. Meanwhile, two freelance assassins, Meg and Terry, are out to kill an elderly American called Quinn who Terry shot at in Shake's restaurant just before the explosion wrecked it. Because Shake saved his life, Quinn - who may have worked for the CIA in the past - lets him in on a deal to steal the speech that saved former US President's Teddy Roosevelt's life. (It's a long story - one of many that Quinn relates as he an Shake flee Belize via Mexico and San Fransisco before heading off to Egypt, where that Roosevelt speech is).
Along the way, Shake gets back with the gorgeous Gina to help with the scam he and Quinn have planned. Gina's not too happy about having been dumped - and you just know she's going to make Shake suffer for it even though she possibly still loves him - but agrees to help out. Now Shake, who - if he's honest - is still in love with Gina, is being hunted by Baby Jesus, Meg and Terry and that attractive FBI agent called Evelyn. Oh yes, and there's another assassin who someone's hired to make sure everything goes to plan, although you just know that's not going to happen.
Despite this convoluted scenario, Lou Berney effortlessly pulls all the various plot threads together to bring the story to an action packed ending. Another fun tale with larger than life characters from a writer who really knows how to tell a story. Recommended.
Confused? You really need to keep your wits about you as the convoluted plot unfolds. Meanwhile, two freelance assassins, Meg and Terry, are out to kill an elderly American called Quinn who Terry shot at in Shake's restaurant just before the explosion wrecked it. Because Shake saved his life, Quinn - who may have worked for the CIA in the past - lets him in on a deal to steal the speech that saved former US President's Teddy Roosevelt's life. (It's a long story - one of many that Quinn relates as he an Shake flee Belize via Mexico and San Fransisco before heading off to Egypt, where that Roosevelt speech is).
Along the way, Shake gets back with the gorgeous Gina to help with the scam he and Quinn have planned. Gina's not too happy about having been dumped - and you just know she's going to make Shake suffer for it even though she possibly still loves him - but agrees to help out. Now Shake, who - if he's honest - is still in love with Gina, is being hunted by Baby Jesus, Meg and Terry and that attractive FBI agent called Evelyn. Oh yes, and there's another assassin who someone's hired to make sure everything goes to plan, although you just know that's not going to happen.
Despite this convoluted scenario, Lou Berney effortlessly pulls all the various plot threads together to bring the story to an action packed ending. Another fun tale with larger than life characters from a writer who really knows how to tell a story. Recommended.
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May 23, 2017
'Whiplash River' is a fast-paced sequel to Lou Berney's Gutshot Straight, with lots of whacky characters, humor, action, exotic locales, violence, a little sex, and a plot that's made for the movies. I'm not sure who'd play the part of the inimitable Shake, but there's everything here for a high budget blockbuster.
Shake had a problem. His restaurant wasn't doing well, he was late in repaying a loan to a gangster, a pretty FBI agent is tracking him down for his past sins, people are shooting at his patrons in his restaurant, his place of business explodes, and he needs to get out of town, fast. Problem is, town is a tropical island and all he has is an old ex-CIA guy who won't shut up and who's also being chased and a slow tourist boat they stole to get them to Mexico. That's only the beginning.....
It'd be very easy to spoil the remainder of this and I won't do it....the fun is just starting and you just have to get to know the characters. This book is a blast!
By the way, I've heard comparisons of the writer to Hiassen and I can certainly see them. He also has a lot of Elmore Leonard in there as well with the great dialogue and characters that may be a little criminally-inclined but fun to hang with as well.
Shake had a problem. His restaurant wasn't doing well, he was late in repaying a loan to a gangster, a pretty FBI agent is tracking him down for his past sins, people are shooting at his patrons in his restaurant, his place of business explodes, and he needs to get out of town, fast. Problem is, town is a tropical island and all he has is an old ex-CIA guy who won't shut up and who's also being chased and a slow tourist boat they stole to get them to Mexico. That's only the beginning.....
It'd be very easy to spoil the remainder of this and I won't do it....the fun is just starting and you just have to get to know the characters. This book is a blast!
By the way, I've heard comparisons of the writer to Hiassen and I can certainly see them. He also has a lot of Elmore Leonard in there as well with the great dialogue and characters that may be a little criminally-inclined but fun to hang with as well.
November 29, 2024
"The moment of truth. Shake had never been sure why it was called that. Maybe because whatever way things broke, that became the truth. Your truth."
Shake is back and he's in trouble again, the former wheelman tries to make a new life as a restaurateur in Belize, but as you may imagine that dream goes up in smoke (literally). In addition, there are various characters trying to kill him, from a Belizean drug dealer loan shark with the unlikely name of Baby Jesus, to a murderous girl looking to avenge her dead boyfriend, and that's just for starters. In this book we meet Harry Quinn who is quite the character himself and seems to share Shake's penchant for getting into hot water, and the trouble never stops. As with all Lou Berney novels this one is non-stop craziness and great fun!
Shake is back and he's in trouble again, the former wheelman tries to make a new life as a restaurateur in Belize, but as you may imagine that dream goes up in smoke (literally). In addition, there are various characters trying to kill him, from a Belizean drug dealer loan shark with the unlikely name of Baby Jesus, to a murderous girl looking to avenge her dead boyfriend, and that's just for starters. In this book we meet Harry Quinn who is quite the character himself and seems to share Shake's penchant for getting into hot water, and the trouble never stops. As with all Lou Berney novels this one is non-stop craziness and great fun!
August 26, 2016
Did I laugh!
This author equals entertainment. Are his people nice or gentle? NO! Could you believe than any one of 20 characterizations would turn up in your neighborhood cozy mystery? NO!
Still- I will read every single one that Lou Berney writes. His Shake (nickname Milkshake gotten in prison and shortened) protagonist in this one is really a keeper. Funny, real, and absolutely detailed to the guy who drove the get-away car and then wanted to have a straight life occupation "after the fact".
But what is the MOST superlative in this particular novel are the numbers and the quality of the FEMALE leads. Not all love interests or age appropriate or "normal" relationship prone- but all entirely different. I counted FIVE. As opposed to the 3 main males of the core plotted escapade.
It's a travail and a chase that takes us to 3 continents and yet the dialog never skips a beat- let alone an ocean. Or a mountain range. Or a desert either. (We end up in Egypt for the reveals.)
My favorite part was in Belize on the A. Caye. That entire Part I was a 5 star. Up until the KABOOM! Part II was a 4.5. And Part III was a 3.5. So I compromised with a 4. The plot with all its devious entities and their affiliations of power was also a 4. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Don't you know.
The character of Quinn was precisely perfect- a 70 year old silver fox. But the WOMEN in this one.
YIPES! Evelyn was my fav. But MEG! And then there is Gina. Gina and S.F. scene was, for me, the most singular hard part to swallow- she would never be that bored for that long if you believed all that Shake did about her. But still? And then there was the "Widow" and the nurturing wonder in the turban who is also a fantastic waitress.
Berney does nasty world, crime killers, action adrenaline junkies, drug cartel nuance, inner city gangs in empathy, and I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine- better than anyone. BETTER.
He should be a screen writer. Maybe he is?
This one would make a dynamic movie. Belize, Mexico, S.F., Cairo- and the Sphinx's missing nose. And the copied speech that stopped Teddy Roosevelt's assassin's bullet! What more can you ask for?
Well, I could ask for this? Evelyn as a best friend, and Meg for a hired world wide trip travel companion. Shake in reserve to cook us up some Conch Fritters.
This author equals entertainment. Are his people nice or gentle? NO! Could you believe than any one of 20 characterizations would turn up in your neighborhood cozy mystery? NO!
Still- I will read every single one that Lou Berney writes. His Shake (nickname Milkshake gotten in prison and shortened) protagonist in this one is really a keeper. Funny, real, and absolutely detailed to the guy who drove the get-away car and then wanted to have a straight life occupation "after the fact".
But what is the MOST superlative in this particular novel are the numbers and the quality of the FEMALE leads. Not all love interests or age appropriate or "normal" relationship prone- but all entirely different. I counted FIVE. As opposed to the 3 main males of the core plotted escapade.
It's a travail and a chase that takes us to 3 continents and yet the dialog never skips a beat- let alone an ocean. Or a mountain range. Or a desert either. (We end up in Egypt for the reveals.)
My favorite part was in Belize on the A. Caye. That entire Part I was a 5 star. Up until the KABOOM! Part II was a 4.5. And Part III was a 3.5. So I compromised with a 4. The plot with all its devious entities and their affiliations of power was also a 4. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. Don't you know.
The character of Quinn was precisely perfect- a 70 year old silver fox. But the WOMEN in this one.
YIPES! Evelyn was my fav. But MEG! And then there is Gina. Gina and S.F. scene was, for me, the most singular hard part to swallow- she would never be that bored for that long if you believed all that Shake did about her. But still? And then there was the "Widow" and the nurturing wonder in the turban who is also a fantastic waitress.
Berney does nasty world, crime killers, action adrenaline junkies, drug cartel nuance, inner city gangs in empathy, and I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine- better than anyone. BETTER.
He should be a screen writer. Maybe he is?
This one would make a dynamic movie. Belize, Mexico, S.F., Cairo- and the Sphinx's missing nose. And the copied speech that stopped Teddy Roosevelt's assassin's bullet! What more can you ask for?
Well, I could ask for this? Evelyn as a best friend, and Meg for a hired world wide trip travel companion. Shake in reserve to cook us up some Conch Fritters.
December 31, 2012
I loved Lou Berney's first novel, Gutshot Straight, so I was thrilled when I saw he had written another. I was even happier when I realized this book also starred Shake Bouchon, ex-wheelman for the Armenian mob. Shake apparently decided to start living quietly and bought himself a bar in Belize. Life would be great, if it wasn't for the fact that he owes cocaine runner Baby Jesus several thousand dollars he can't pay back. Then his bar gets shot up when someone tries to kill one of his customers, and before he can sweep up all the broken glass, the place explodes. It's suddenly time to get out of Belize, so he turns to the one man who says he can help, who's also the same guy who started all the trouble in the first place.
Quinn claims he's an expert at bringing people together, like the authorities and surrendering drug dealers, and now he's got a line on something that will make both him and Shake rich: a copy of Teddy Roosevelt's speech stolen from the American museum in Cairo. All they have to do is travel to Egypt and con it out of the guys who took it during the uprising. But to do it, Shake needs to bring in one more person: his ex-girlfriend Gina, who happens to hate his guts.
Shake is a great character, as are Gina, Quinn, and just about everyone else on these pages. I liked this book, but not nearly as much as I liked Gutshot Straight. This time, there were too many subplots going on, and most of them did not get the attention they deserved before the story moved onto the next phase. I love the relationship between Shake and Gina, and would have liked to see more of that, but it almost felt as if Gina was added to the story as an afterthought. Despite that, this was a very readable book--just not as good as the first--and I'll definitely read Berney's next one.
Quinn claims he's an expert at bringing people together, like the authorities and surrendering drug dealers, and now he's got a line on something that will make both him and Shake rich: a copy of Teddy Roosevelt's speech stolen from the American museum in Cairo. All they have to do is travel to Egypt and con it out of the guys who took it during the uprising. But to do it, Shake needs to bring in one more person: his ex-girlfriend Gina, who happens to hate his guts.
Shake is a great character, as are Gina, Quinn, and just about everyone else on these pages. I liked this book, but not nearly as much as I liked Gutshot Straight. This time, there were too many subplots going on, and most of them did not get the attention they deserved before the story moved onto the next phase. I love the relationship between Shake and Gina, and would have liked to see more of that, but it almost felt as if Gina was added to the story as an afterthought. Despite that, this was a very readable book--just not as good as the first--and I'll definitely read Berney's next one.
June 8, 2012
A remarkable action packed story with a basically "Good Man" career criminal wheel man, Charles "Shake" Bouchon, who has paid his price and is trying to go straight as a highly leveraged restaurant owner in Belize. Characters abound filling out the story with an assortment of memorable, strange people ranging from a FBI Special Agent taking her vacation in Belize to try to squeeze Shake for damning info on the Armenian Mob to a loving pair of "Would Be" assassins trying to earn their credentials at Shakes restaurant, an evil killer and bad guy, Babb who is masquerading as an FBI Special Agent, Idaba, Shake's second in command and conscience, Quinn, an ancient but colorful and talkative restaurant customer reputed to have a CIA background and maybe some current connections to the agency, Baby Jesus and his strong arm henchman who insured that Shake satisfied his loans from the local island mob gangster, a lovely lady, Gina, who Shake would love to get to know better and break his long dry spell at romance and a link to former associate, Sticky Jimmy who is now cleaned up and has political asperations for high political office. The story just keep looping around with the poor sypathetic anti-hero Shake constantly running to just avoid getting further behind and being threatened from all sides. One of those people who can't get a fair break in life but, is loveable still and you can't help but keep on rooting for him. Keeps you interested and involved throughout without even a hint of a slow place. The fast paced action, tension and concern for the health of Shake and his assortment of peers keyes this book as one of the better books of the season. Treat yourselves with a great read!
October 28, 2012
Shake Bouchon was livin’ the dream.
For years, he’d been a wheelman for the Armenian mob, but he’d gotten away clean. He bought restaurant on the beach in Belize, where he hoped to start fresh. The location was postcard-perfect, sea breezes and tiki torches and tourists with credit cards. Should have been everything he needed for a perfect retirement in Lou Berney’s Whiplash River.
Unfortunately, the dream has a mortgage. Shake owes an arm and a leg and possibly other vital organs to a local gangster named Baby Jesus. Business at the restaurant has taken a turn for the worse and Baby Jesus is always lurking in the background, looking to collect. When Shake thwarts what looks like a professional hit on an elderly patron, things get really weird.
Shake’s biggest problem is a beautiful FBI agent named Evelyn Holly. She has big plans, plans to bring down the Armenian mob and she thinks Shake can give her the inside intel to do it. She’s ruthless; she doesn’t care if Shake doesn’t want to cooperate. Evelyn is perfectly capable of blackmailing him, putting him in danger, anything that will force his hand, but she isn’t the only one looking for him.
This is one of the books I read in Key West and it was a treat. Plenty of action, lots of plot twists, a little romance — great beach book, or maybe a book to read when you wish you were on a beach. Great fun.
For years, he’d been a wheelman for the Armenian mob, but he’d gotten away clean. He bought restaurant on the beach in Belize, where he hoped to start fresh. The location was postcard-perfect, sea breezes and tiki torches and tourists with credit cards. Should have been everything he needed for a perfect retirement in Lou Berney’s Whiplash River.
Unfortunately, the dream has a mortgage. Shake owes an arm and a leg and possibly other vital organs to a local gangster named Baby Jesus. Business at the restaurant has taken a turn for the worse and Baby Jesus is always lurking in the background, looking to collect. When Shake thwarts what looks like a professional hit on an elderly patron, things get really weird.
Shake’s biggest problem is a beautiful FBI agent named Evelyn Holly. She has big plans, plans to bring down the Armenian mob and she thinks Shake can give her the inside intel to do it. She’s ruthless; she doesn’t care if Shake doesn’t want to cooperate. Evelyn is perfectly capable of blackmailing him, putting him in danger, anything that will force his hand, but she isn’t the only one looking for him.
This is one of the books I read in Key West and it was a treat. Plenty of action, lots of plot twists, a little romance — great beach book, or maybe a book to read when you wish you were on a beach. Great fun.
September 19, 2012
Whiplash River is second in Lou Berney's series featuring former getaway driver, Charles "Shake" Bourchon. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed both books and do believe it really helps to have read Gutshot Straight before Whiplash River.
Bourchon is the classic "criminal with a sense of honor" - a basically good guy who's taken a couple of wrong turns but still has a strong sense of "right and wrong" (he would never turn in any of his former associates to lighten his sentencing), and is now attempting to go straight.
As Whiplash River starts, he is living out his dream of running his own restauranton the Belize coast, but is deep in debt to a Belize loan shark/drug dealer. Anything that can go wrong does and ultimately "Shake" is back to try "just one more job" and get his life back together.
I like Berney's combination of humor and suspense and thoroughly enjoy the oddball cast of character he assembles. Looking forward to see what happens to Shake next.
I won Whiplash River from LibraryThings.com Early Reviewers.
Bourchon is the classic "criminal with a sense of honor" - a basically good guy who's taken a couple of wrong turns but still has a strong sense of "right and wrong" (he would never turn in any of his former associates to lighten his sentencing), and is now attempting to go straight.
As Whiplash River starts, he is living out his dream of running his own restauranton the Belize coast, but is deep in debt to a Belize loan shark/drug dealer. Anything that can go wrong does and ultimately "Shake" is back to try "just one more job" and get his life back together.
I like Berney's combination of humor and suspense and thoroughly enjoy the oddball cast of character he assembles. Looking forward to see what happens to Shake next.
I won Whiplash River from LibraryThings.com Early Reviewers.
October 22, 2019
Shaken up!
Shake and Gina are at it again. Another tension filled adventure trying to outwit the bad guys and hit the big pay day. Nothing ever seems to go according to plan though. And that is where all the fun and excitement comes from. Simply to much conscience. Too much sexual tension. Too much fun and excitement. I love these characters. I hope Mr. Barney has more Shake in that devious mind of his and shares it with us.
Shake and Gina are at it again. Another tension filled adventure trying to outwit the bad guys and hit the big pay day. Nothing ever seems to go according to plan though. And that is where all the fun and excitement comes from. Simply to much conscience. Too much sexual tension. Too much fun and excitement. I love these characters. I hope Mr. Barney has more Shake in that devious mind of his and shares it with us.
July 5, 2016
Yeah this is an author to follow.
Laugh out loud dialog, very well written characters. Author Berney takes the time to develop minor characters, and it pays off in the reading. Whiplash River takes you on a wild ride, yet I'm eager for the next one.
Laugh out loud dialog, very well written characters. Author Berney takes the time to develop minor characters, and it pays off in the reading. Whiplash River takes you on a wild ride, yet I'm eager for the next one.
August 19, 2018
This book was a lot of fun to read--kind of like the old Ross Thomas books I devoured years ago--with a cast of characters so well-defined and unique that you won't forget them for a long time, and miss them a bit after the last page.
March 6, 2024
WHIPLASH RIVER by Lou Berney is a fun book. There are more bad guys per square foot than I have ever encountered before in a book.
Unbeknownst to me, this is the second book involving the main character. I was listening to this one when I started a physical book titled Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney and realized that it was an earlier book. But reading takes me longer than listening, so I am reading them out of order.
Shake Bouchon is living in Belize, trying to make a go of the restaurant he always wanted. In his previous life, he was a wheelman for the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. Now he is (hopefully) retired. Owning a restaurant and breaking even is not easy, so he owes a lot of money to the local drug dealer, Baby Jesus.
When Shake's restaurant explodes, Baby Jesus shows up demanding his money. After all, the restaurant was the collateral for the loan Shake got. But Baby Jesus and his thugs were not responsible for the explosion. And why is a freckle face young woman who was at the site of the explosion trying to kill him? Also, what's with the woman he just met? She showed up and tried to shoot the girl. What is going on?
As the book proceeds, more criminals get involved, and soon Shake, and Quinn, a man who can get him out of Belize, head to San Francisco to get Gina (from the first book) so that the three of them can smuggle an antiquity out of Egypt.
Oddly, this is not hard to follow despite more characters than a Russian novel. I recommend it!
Unbeknownst to me, this is the second book involving the main character. I was listening to this one when I started a physical book titled Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney and realized that it was an earlier book. But reading takes me longer than listening, so I am reading them out of order.
Shake Bouchon is living in Belize, trying to make a go of the restaurant he always wanted. In his previous life, he was a wheelman for the Armenian mob in Los Angeles. Now he is (hopefully) retired. Owning a restaurant and breaking even is not easy, so he owes a lot of money to the local drug dealer, Baby Jesus.
When Shake's restaurant explodes, Baby Jesus shows up demanding his money. After all, the restaurant was the collateral for the loan Shake got. But Baby Jesus and his thugs were not responsible for the explosion. And why is a freckle face young woman who was at the site of the explosion trying to kill him? Also, what's with the woman he just met? She showed up and tried to shoot the girl. What is going on?
As the book proceeds, more criminals get involved, and soon Shake, and Quinn, a man who can get him out of Belize, head to San Francisco to get Gina (from the first book) so that the three of them can smuggle an antiquity out of Egypt.
Oddly, this is not hard to follow despite more characters than a Russian novel. I recommend it!
March 25, 2024
Whiplash River makes me feel like Elmore Leonard has come back to us. Really excellent. The only problem is I read the second Shake Bouchon first, but now I'm going to read the first one and I'm sure it'll be just as good as the second was.
December 24, 2022
My third book by the author, whose November Road is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s been fun to see his development as a writer: Gut Shot Straight was his first (I think), Whiplash River his second and it was better written, same main characters as Gut Shot.
Shake Bouchon has achieved his dream of owning his own restaurant, on Belize, and if you’ve ever watched Restaurant Rescue on Food Network you know a restaurant can be a giant pain and a fast way to go broke, which Shake is learning. But then, bullets start flying, shit blows up, and Shake is suddenly back to his old criminal ways.
It’s a good caper book, funny and a little bit of romance.
Shake Bouchon has achieved his dream of owning his own restaurant, on Belize, and if you’ve ever watched Restaurant Rescue on Food Network you know a restaurant can be a giant pain and a fast way to go broke, which Shake is learning. But then, bullets start flying, shit blows up, and Shake is suddenly back to his old criminal ways.
It’s a good caper book, funny and a little bit of romance.
June 10, 2022
Funny, kind of off the wall.
September 3, 2012
I have to admit that I had a hard time warming up to a criminal as the main character. He is described as too nice a guy for the life he's led and not nice enough for any other. He is charming and even sincere. He has done some prison time and he just seems to keep getting tangled in the seedy side of life, such as when he takes a lone from the Belize drug lord to get his restaurant going. These bad occurrences just seem to happen TO him without his purposefully seeking them out. He was a well drawn, rather sad character.
I particularly liked the FBI agent, Evelyn, as she doggedly follows "Shake" with the intent of convincing, or manipulating, him to testify against the Armenian mob that he worked for in the prior book. I would love to see a series based on Evelyn's character because she is such a well developed, complex, and driven character. The ex-girlfriend Gina is a character you don't trust from the moment she is introduced. She lies like it is second nature, and goes on the Egypt job mainly to torture Shake for dumping her. Then there is Quinn, man of mystery, maybe prior CIA - but shady and despite being in his seventies, he is no good through and through. The hired assassin, Meg, is one of those screwed up people whose life is crime and violence and she doesn't like, nor want, a different life. She is very effectively portrayed as one scary gal.
Both Belize and Egypt are aptly portrayed. So much so that my desire to vacation in Belize has been squashed after this peek into its criminal underbelly. The paradise with a criminal network is beautifully portrayed with just enough sunsets and yet the tension of organized crime in the shadows. Egypt was perfect to carry on a delicate and dangerous criminal operation that had been mis-advertised from the start.
The plot is involved with several components going simultaneously, yet seamlessly. This could have caused confusion, but was deftly handled. All the components met for the finale in grand fashion. The pacing was consistent throughout and kept my interest to see how it turned out at each turn.
This is not an "Ocean's Eleven" kind of slick criminal, Shake is a messy case without the suave side. Shake is a criminal who dreams of being a simple restaurant owner, until it is blown up and he has to resort to what he knows, illegal tactics, to get away from the people trying to kill him. If you are put off by the "F" bomb, this is full of it along with some crude references - but I have definitely read worse language in not as well done novels. It says a lot about the author who can take an anti-hero like Shake, a criminal, and have the reader routing that he gets his simple dream back.
Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws (example is language and violence if those are an issue for you). Maybe read an excerpt before buying. Otherwise an excellent read that surprised me, put this author on your watch list.
Obtained Through: TLC Tours
Mysteries and My Musings http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
I particularly liked the FBI agent, Evelyn, as she doggedly follows "Shake" with the intent of convincing, or manipulating, him to testify against the Armenian mob that he worked for in the prior book. I would love to see a series based on Evelyn's character because she is such a well developed, complex, and driven character. The ex-girlfriend Gina is a character you don't trust from the moment she is introduced. She lies like it is second nature, and goes on the Egypt job mainly to torture Shake for dumping her. Then there is Quinn, man of mystery, maybe prior CIA - but shady and despite being in his seventies, he is no good through and through. The hired assassin, Meg, is one of those screwed up people whose life is crime and violence and she doesn't like, nor want, a different life. She is very effectively portrayed as one scary gal.
Both Belize and Egypt are aptly portrayed. So much so that my desire to vacation in Belize has been squashed after this peek into its criminal underbelly. The paradise with a criminal network is beautifully portrayed with just enough sunsets and yet the tension of organized crime in the shadows. Egypt was perfect to carry on a delicate and dangerous criminal operation that had been mis-advertised from the start.
The plot is involved with several components going simultaneously, yet seamlessly. This could have caused confusion, but was deftly handled. All the components met for the finale in grand fashion. The pacing was consistent throughout and kept my interest to see how it turned out at each turn.
This is not an "Ocean's Eleven" kind of slick criminal, Shake is a messy case without the suave side. Shake is a criminal who dreams of being a simple restaurant owner, until it is blown up and he has to resort to what he knows, illegal tactics, to get away from the people trying to kill him. If you are put off by the "F" bomb, this is full of it along with some crude references - but I have definitely read worse language in not as well done novels. It says a lot about the author who can take an anti-hero like Shake, a criminal, and have the reader routing that he gets his simple dream back.
Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws (example is language and violence if those are an issue for you). Maybe read an excerpt before buying. Otherwise an excellent read that surprised me, put this author on your watch list.
Obtained Through: TLC Tours
Mysteries and My Musings http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
August 19, 2012
Whiplash River by Lou Berney is one fun, crazy adventure. Charles "Shake" Bouchon has supposedly left his life of crime behind to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant in Belize, which was, unfortunately, financed through a risky loan from Baby Jesus, the head of a local drug smuggling operation. Suddenly Shake's dream literally explodes and he finds himself on the run with a senior citizen, Harry Quinn, whose mysterious past seems to be just another long story waiting to be told.
Shake saved Harry's life once, but why would someone be trying to kill Harry, and now Shake, and who is ordering the hits? Will Shake meet the attractive Evelyn or see his former girlfriend, Gina, again? Traveling from Belize to the USA to Egypt while being stalked by an FBI agent and hunted by two hired killers, Shake may be looking at more dire consequences than an end to his dreams.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot because following it is most of the fun. Berney has written TV pilots and it shows. The writing is tight, smart and funny and clever and... it's great. The plot is action packed and races along quickly. I can picture this as a series that will have some longevity. There is action, humor, gun play, chases, narrow escapes, and even a little romance.
All the characters are well developed as individuals with human flaws. Shake is wonderfully inept at times and Harry was a hoot. I could really visualize this old guy and all his stories that you aren't sure how much is true, even while they never quite offer up the complete truth or all the information you actually need. It's was easy to follow the characters along too, even though he does have a cast of them.
Make no mistake about it, Whiplash River is funny and clever. This is a sequel to Burney's first novel, Gutshot Straight (2010). I am going to have to get my hands on a copy of it ASAP. While you can certainly appreciate Whiplash River as a stand alone novel, after reading it, I predict you will feel the same way I do and want to read the first novel.
Whiplash River is highly recommended to offer up some great escapism and entertainment.
Shake saved Harry's life once, but why would someone be trying to kill Harry, and now Shake, and who is ordering the hits? Will Shake meet the attractive Evelyn or see his former girlfriend, Gina, again? Traveling from Belize to the USA to Egypt while being stalked by an FBI agent and hunted by two hired killers, Shake may be looking at more dire consequences than an end to his dreams.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot because following it is most of the fun. Berney has written TV pilots and it shows. The writing is tight, smart and funny and clever and... it's great. The plot is action packed and races along quickly. I can picture this as a series that will have some longevity. There is action, humor, gun play, chases, narrow escapes, and even a little romance.
All the characters are well developed as individuals with human flaws. Shake is wonderfully inept at times and Harry was a hoot. I could really visualize this old guy and all his stories that you aren't sure how much is true, even while they never quite offer up the complete truth or all the information you actually need. It's was easy to follow the characters along too, even though he does have a cast of them.
Make no mistake about it, Whiplash River is funny and clever. This is a sequel to Burney's first novel, Gutshot Straight (2010). I am going to have to get my hands on a copy of it ASAP. While you can certainly appreciate Whiplash River as a stand alone novel, after reading it, I predict you will feel the same way I do and want to read the first novel.
Whiplash River is highly recommended to offer up some great escapism and entertainment.
October 23, 2012
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. There is an understanding that a review will be written and published (somewhere) but it isn't a requirement.
I didn't read "Gutshot Straight," the first Shake Bouchon book, but I didn't feel that was detrimental to the enjoyment of this book. And I really did enjoy it; it's a fun romp with interesting characters and it's well told.
The author starts the rollercoaster ride straight from the beginning and it doesn't let up. There are twists and turns that kept me reading late into the night, but the tone is light enough that I sometimes laughed out loud, as well. I particularly enjoyed the Harrison Quinn character and Shake's interaction with him. Poor Shake seems to never catch a break, but he's also not dead - so he's ahead of the game.
The author builds a great cast of characters in addition to Quinn and Shake and writes them well. In spite of the number of characters and locations, I never had any trouble keeping track of them because they were all very memorable. When Shake leaves Belize, I was a little put out because Idaba was such a colorful character and Shake left her behind.
I enjoyed this book so much, I would actually buy the first book, "Gutshot Straight," which is only $2.99 in Amazon's Kindle book listings. I'd have to read that one before I'd be able to say whether or not I like it enough to pay $7.99 for "Whiplash River." What I recommend is that you read "Gutshot Straight" for yourself - if it's as good as this book, it's worth the price - and then decide whether or not you think it's worth $7.99 to read the sequel. I liked "Whiplash River," I'm just not sure I like it enough to have paid $7.99 for it.
I didn't read "Gutshot Straight," the first Shake Bouchon book, but I didn't feel that was detrimental to the enjoyment of this book. And I really did enjoy it; it's a fun romp with interesting characters and it's well told.
The author starts the rollercoaster ride straight from the beginning and it doesn't let up. There are twists and turns that kept me reading late into the night, but the tone is light enough that I sometimes laughed out loud, as well. I particularly enjoyed the Harrison Quinn character and Shake's interaction with him. Poor Shake seems to never catch a break, but he's also not dead - so he's ahead of the game.
The author builds a great cast of characters in addition to Quinn and Shake and writes them well. In spite of the number of characters and locations, I never had any trouble keeping track of them because they were all very memorable. When Shake leaves Belize, I was a little put out because Idaba was such a colorful character and Shake left her behind.
I enjoyed this book so much, I would actually buy the first book, "Gutshot Straight," which is only $2.99 in Amazon's Kindle book listings. I'd have to read that one before I'd be able to say whether or not I like it enough to pay $7.99 for "Whiplash River." What I recommend is that you read "Gutshot Straight" for yourself - if it's as good as this book, it's worth the price - and then decide whether or not you think it's worth $7.99 to read the sequel. I liked "Whiplash River," I'm just not sure I like it enough to have paid $7.99 for it.
June 30, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel. This is the second book to feature Shake Bouchon and Gina Clement, two con artists with a history. (I hadn’t read the first book of the series, Gutshot Straight, but didn’t need to. Author Lou Berney does a good job filling in first-time readers nicely, while also giving gentle reminders to fans of the first novel.) Shake is now trying to live a clean life running a restaurant in Belize. But the need for cash and the appearance of a man named Quinn (not to mention the hitman sent to kill him) soon upsets Shake’s calm existence.
If you’re a fan of Elmore Leonard, you’ll like this book. The caper story, the strong female character (and love interest) that is the equal to the male lead, plus a second female character (FBI agent Evelyn Holly) who also catches the eye of Shake are all very Leonard-esque. In addition, the character Harrigan Quinn is a hoot, and almost steals the show (I hope we see him again in future novels). He’s a grifter who ropes Shake and Gina into participating in his con, which brings them all the way from Belize to Egypt.
Good dialogue, short chapters (with alternating POVs), and lots of humor keep the story moving and the pages turning. There are many side characters that really add fun to the story; Berney has created a good cast that he can draw from in future books. I’m specifically thinking of Meg, the novice criminal who right now has more spunk than experience; Sticky Jimmy, a politician who needs to clean up some loose ends from his past; and Baby Jesus, the hefty drug lord of Belize.
Soon after I finished this novel I was already missing it. Then I remembered, I still have the first one to read!
If you’re a fan of Elmore Leonard, you’ll like this book. The caper story, the strong female character (and love interest) that is the equal to the male lead, plus a second female character (FBI agent Evelyn Holly) who also catches the eye of Shake are all very Leonard-esque. In addition, the character Harrigan Quinn is a hoot, and almost steals the show (I hope we see him again in future novels). He’s a grifter who ropes Shake and Gina into participating in his con, which brings them all the way from Belize to Egypt.
Good dialogue, short chapters (with alternating POVs), and lots of humor keep the story moving and the pages turning. There are many side characters that really add fun to the story; Berney has created a good cast that he can draw from in future books. I’m specifically thinking of Meg, the novice criminal who right now has more spunk than experience; Sticky Jimmy, a politician who needs to clean up some loose ends from his past; and Baby Jesus, the hefty drug lord of Belize.
Soon after I finished this novel I was already missing it. Then I remembered, I still have the first one to read!
September 28, 2012
Wow! I really like these characters (especially the repeat characters, Shake and Gina, from "Gutshot Straight"). I like this author's writing style. I like the dialogue (although, it wasn't quite as clever and pithy throughout the ENTIRE novel, as it was in "Gutshot Straight"). I like they way the story is almost spontaneous, in places - - you just don't see certain plot-twists coming. And, I like the overall fun and casual attitude of the prose. Some of the characters are pretty despicable people, but they banter like old acquaintances. It makes for a VERY enjoyable read. This is one of those books where I looked forward to spending time in the world, and was even willing to stay up late to finish it. Lou Berney is a delightful author. I look forward to reading other novels (or short stories!) by him in the future! But, in the meantime - I just may go back and re-read this and the previous books, while I wait to see more of Shake and Gina (and most probably Evelyn and Quinn!). Oh, but Lou - you GOTTA bring back Jasper (from "Gutshot", who made a BRIEF "appearance" in this book via a phone call)! He was such a loveable thug, and his interplay with the other characters was fantastic. I hate to put pressure on you, but - I want more!!! (Darn! I'm sure that's what every author dreads - overly eager fans!) = : )
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